First time venturing into these seedy back streets of the city, making the extra effort to see Barbara Morgenstern, on the back of a New Zealand tour, do one extra date in Sydney before jetting off for Indonesia the next night. And as a bit of a bonus, we get the critically acclaimed French electronic artist Avril as well.
Barbara Morgenstern live is just her alone on keyboard and technologies, building up loops and singing, dancing. The tunes were electro with an unexpected darker, rougher edge. Quite danceable if the crowd was right. There were more people present than I'd expected, but they were far too cool to approach the stage, let alone move to the music. Barbara only performed a short set of four or so tunes before calling Avril on stage to rescue her from a loop she didn't know how to end.
Avril on electric guitar and laptop opened his set with "the date". He could have left after that and I would have been satisfied. But no, he hung on and played some slower numbers, living out his rockstar fantasies.
After another quick short set, Barbara and Avril got on stage together and played some jams they've been working on on their tour so far. Some found sounds sampled, birds and planes, pretty loose and haphazard. The complaint was made that it was all a bit too cheery and happy. Ultimately the thing I loved most was Barbara bringing the dark and heavy beats and basslines. And her interviewing a sheep.